Woody was embarrassed. ‘Sorry she’s in a bit of a mood tonight. A few drinks and she’ll settle down.’
‘Don’t apologise for her, Woody. It’s exactly that feistiness that appeals to you, right. Well, in the bedroom anyway.’
‘Cassie,’ he said, laughing. He got that she was kidding with him but wow, she had it right.
Kayden was laughing too as Jason came to join them, wanting to know what was so funny. When Kayden told him, he laughed so loud Cassie thought he was going to bring everyone over.
‘I’ve scratched my head for months trying to work out what the hell he sees in her and goddamn it if Cassie hasn’t found the answer within five minutes of meeting her,’ Jason remarked.
Woody was still grinning and put his arm around Cassie. ‘You’re too aware for your own good, young lady. Now, I better go find my livewire and get her drunk.’ He winked and followed Ella inside.
Jason brought Cassie and Kayden another drink. They went and sat in the gazebo while she heard stories about the cold-hearted Ella. Ethan brought his new girlfriend over to meet Cassie and joined in. After a while she noticed Jason didn’t have a woman in tow, hanging off him like the others did.
‘Your girlfriend was unable to come tonight?’
‘My type of female doesn’t frequent nice parties like this,’ he laughed. ‘I prefer the fun without the commitment. These girls here all know the drill. If I want someone, I’ll choose one at the end of the night. Or not.’ He watched to see if it shocked Cassie. It reminded her of the first time she had met him and how he had acted so excited when he thought she was a whore. She smiled, realising what he meant.
‘Then you should have brought a couple of your ladies of the night to this party. It might have been fun to see Ella’s face, seeing as they dress just as she does,’ she giggled.
Kayden took her drink, laughing. ‘That’s enough for you, young lady. Woody wouldn’t be impressed if he heard you put his Ella into their category.’
Jason passed Cassie his. ‘It’s okay, Cassie. You can drink mine. I’m loving you tonight, girl.’ He kept laughing.
Conor and Ethan saw them having fun and wandered over with their women who had latched themselves to them. They were very sweet and glowed when given attention; nevertheless they didn’t seem that interested. The two females were good friends and chatted for a while between themselves, then went to the powder room together. Jason threw an arm around them both and walked with them inside, reappearing back outside again within minutes, holding another bottle of rum. When he returned, he squeezed back next to Cassie, finding her far more entertaining than anyone else there tonight.
‘What did I miss?’ he smiled, filling up their glasses again.
Cassie laughed at his fun attitude. ‘I was just wondering why we had a party when we’re all out here together under the gazebo on our own again.’
Jason pinched her cheek gently. ‘Because we would sooner just be with you, silly.’
Conor and Ethan toasted Jason, confirming he was right.
‘But why agree to the girls and this?’ she gestured to the guests.
‘For you, so you didn’t feel overpowered by us blokes,’ Conor said, grinning. ‘It must be hard for you only having guys around you all the time.’
‘And here I was worried about the opposite, thinking you must miss not having a woman around.’ She rolled her eyes.
‘We have one: our new little sister,’ Jason grinned. ‘When we need a woman in that way, we just disappear. You’ll get used to us.’
‘So, Woody must need a woman in that way because he hasn’t come back. Is that what you mean?’ she asked earnestly and they all burst out laughing.
‘I think she’s got it,’ Kayden said as he refilled their shot glasses again.
A funky song came on so Jason and Cassie started singing it together and jumping around dancing. When it finished, she plonked down next to Kayden, laughing. ‘I think I’ve drunk too much all ready. You better drink mine if you want me to last the night,’ she said, handing him her full glass.
Kayden was enjoying her as much as the men were and never did take that drink of hers. Or the next, or the next. They continued drinking and ended up playing cards until the wee hours of the morning. Cassie’s glass of rum seemed like a bottomless pit that someone kept filling before she’d even finished it. Her concentration was trashed, so she and Jason were close to even although neither of them were considering giving in. The other players kept sculling nips of rum while the crowd around them became more boisterous and the game kept going. They had two hands left when Woody came downstairs to see what the racket was all about. Seemingly annoyed with the state she was in, he growled at Kayden for allowing the game to go on, enticing Cassie to get so drunk.